SHIRTS-N-SKINS

How about this basketball fan?

This guy was upset…

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

RAININ’ 3′s

Last night the Portland Trailblazers and the Dallas Mavericks were involved in a Foul or Defend in Portland.  The Mavericks were up three and on defense.

LaMarcus Aldridge came up big on a sweet sideline out-of-bounds play to tie the game with a step-back three from the right corner.  Aldridge was 0-for-9 from 3-point range this season until hitting the shot with 4.5 seconds left to tie the score at 104-104.

A few seconds later, after an offensive foul was called on OJ Mayo, Aldridge nailed the game-winner. (Aldridge’s shot comes at the :25 mark of the clip)

This is the third time this season the Dallas Mavericks have been involved in the Foul or Defend. The Mavericks have now given up three’s in two different Foul or Defend situations and have lost both.

Blazers win, thanks for coming, arrive home safely.

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

TOO MUCH TIME TO FOUL?

Yesterday late in regulation, the Celtics were up three points on the Heat; on defense and LeBron James had the ball.

Nine days ago the Celtics decided to foul against the Bulls in the same situation (Doc Rivers usually fouls in these situations – he has done it twice this year and it was successful both times).

But against the Bulls, some say Doc fouled with too much time left. (That’s been an ongoing debate in the Foul or Defend philosophy)

Here’s the video of LeBron using the high ball screen.

Notice the time when he gets the ball (:13) and the time he launches his shot (:8.9)

The good thing is Boston won the game in double overtime.

-CoachFinamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

Foul or Defend

Well the late game situation I have been tracking since day one at the high school, college and NBA levels is starting to raise some eyebrows and get people talking (and thinking).

Especially after Saturday where Syracuse was in a “Foul or Defend” decided to play defense against Villanova.  The ‘Cuse, known for their 2-3 jumping-jack zone gave up a three to send the contest into overtime.

The Orange lost the game in the extra session.

My guy Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News wrote about it today. (Thanks for the mention Mike)

A friend of mine, Steve Finamore, the head coach at East Lansing High in Michigan, has been charting these situations throughout the season 2012-13 season. He became fixated on the issue after twice choosing not to foul last season and giving up tying 3s—against the same team, to the same player, from the identical spot on the floor.

According to Finamore’s numbers, there have been 279 total situations this season in which a team was ahead three points with the other team in possession of the ball and seven seconds or less to play.

— 259 times the team did not foul relied on its defense; 46 allowed a game-tying 3-pointer that forced overtime. That’s a 17.7 percent failure rate.

— 20 times the team chose to foul on purpose to prevent the 3-pointer; only one, Kent State in a game against Valparaiso, was tied by a team that rebounded a free-throw miss and converted a basket. That’s a 5 percent failure rate.

As far as Finamore is concerned, this season’s failure rate of the fouling strategy should be zero percent.

“Upon further review, the officials blew this,” he said. “A Valpo player committed a lane violation, which was not called.” He added that Kent coach Rob Senderoff told him he still would call for a foul the next time he encountered this situation.

Couple of hours later while watching Kentucky and LSU, John Calipari was up three with 3.1 to play decided to foul LSU.  The Tigers missed the first free-throw, Cats get the rebound, get fouled and make two free throws.

I saw Cal in the huddle go over the strategy, I read his lips; he mentioned “foul.”

Sure enough the Cats fouled. Game over, thanks for coming, arrive home safely. Kentucky wins!

Kentucky fouling is the 21st time a team utilized the “foul” strategy and won the game without going to overtime. Keep in mind, the team trailing has to make the first free-throw, miss the second, get the rebound and score. All you have to do is rebound the miss. If you get fouled, go down the other end and sink your free-throws.

As for Syracuse, they became the 48th team to give up a three this season and play five more minutes of basketball.

Foul or Defend?

What do you do?

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

SECOND CHANCE POINTS

Nice story on a former player of mine at Jackson Community College.

FOX Detroit with a piece on Nick Minnerath, power forward at the University of Detroit.

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore